This insight establishes clear definitions for artificial intelligence, human intelligence, and operational intelligence, providing a shared foundation for understanding their roles in voyage optimisation.
For the context of the report, it’s important to define what AI means. In terms of voyage optimisation, AI refers to advanced computational methods to improve decisions around route planning, speed, estimated time of arrival (ETA) prediction, fuel consumption, emissions, and safety. Rather than replacing existing routing algorithms and approaches, AI should enhance and strengthen them.
According to Madeleine Engelhardt, Product Manager, Fleet Compliance and Technical Performance at StormGeo, AI should act as a transparent co-pilot that processes complex data. Generative and agentic AI systems are increasingly being used in shipping to move voyage decisions from reactive responses to more proactive, predictive planning.
There is no single agreed-upon definition of human intelligence despite ongoing debate. However, for the context of this report, human intelligence is defined as the mental capacity to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn from experience, and adapt successfully to new environments and challenges.
In voyage operations, human intelligence is not just about having data, but about experience-based judgement. This refers to the ability to interpret information in context, recognise when something “doesn’t make sense”, and take responsibility for safety-critical decisions on board.
Both AI and human intelligence bring different values. Operational intelligence requires balancing the two to achieve clearly defined workflows where human insight and judgement complement AI’s computational analysis. Operational intelligence should help move decision-making from slow inconsistent reactions to informed and real-time responsiveness with higher confidence.
Organisations typically travel along an AI maturity curve that progresses from awareness to maturity. Recent research by Thetius found that while 81% of respondents are aware of AI and have run pilot projects, only 33% have progressed beyond these into operational use, suggesting many companies stall at the early stages. This is largely due to a lack of clear use cases, enthusiastic leadership but sceptical frontline workers, conflicting interpretations by AI users, and the difficulty in actually achieving the suggestions made by AI.
To explore how a balanced human-AI approach can strengthen voyage optimisation in safety-critical conditions, read the full Thought Leadership report ‘Co-Pilots of the Sea: Exploring the Human Intelligence Behind Maritime AI’ produced in partnership with StormGeo.
